3 Things Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists

Over the years, blogging has grown from being a medium used by hobbyists sharing their personal thoughts to a legitimate domain people turn to for news and various information. Blogging is quickly overtaking traditional journalism in many aspects, but in other areas, it still has a long way to go.

With that in mind, here are 3 things bloggers can learn from journalists.

Accuracy matters—Sure, blogging is more casual than other news reporting, but if you want anyone to take you seriously as a blogger, you have to really be committed to providing your readers with accurate information. Always spend that few extra moments verifying your facts, because a single slipup can instantly cost you all credibility.

Give credit to your sources—Journalists know that they have to give credit to the sources for their material. It adds credibility to the information they’re providing, shows readers they aren’t just making things up, and is the ethical thing to do. If you’re going to use some information you found online, make sure you link to it and give it proper attribution.

Get to the point—One of the first things you learn in journalism is the inverted pyramid style of news writing. This means you put the most important information up top and then include the less important, supporting details throughout the rest of the story. Readers have an increasingly short attention span, so you need to get to the point as quickly as possible. Focus on creating clear, compelling headlines and strong opening paragraphs to your blog posts.

What are some other things bloggers can learn from journalists? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.